Method of converting oil



Nov. 8, 1932. I c. L. SMITH ETAL 1,887,047

IETHOD or convmu'mc on.

Filedfllaych 22, 1928 l l E Frame -dal- Come,

noento z and Cor-Incl ivu S n a't'sor mama Nov. 8,? 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cmmn L. smn am) communes. warsou, or CHICAGO, nznmoxs, melons '10 m roar. on. comm, or cmcaeo, rumors, a coaromnon or onto METHOD CONVERTING 011':

* Application fled larch 22, 1928. Serial Io. 283,904."

This invention relatesjto a method of converting hydrocarbons of high boiling point into those of lower boiling point, and has particular reference to high temperature conversion systems wherein the oil while undergoing conversion is in a state of vapor.

The invention is particularly directed to a vapor phase method of oil conversion wherein the oil vapor, while in process of conversio'n, or'under converting conditions, is in J the presence of a catalytic material, and it is a prima object of the present invention to provide or a more intimate contact of the catalytic materials with the oil vapors while II the latter are undergoing conversion. ,1

' Hitherto in vapor phase systemsof oil conversion the catalytic material has been in the form of solid or granulated bodies. In some instances iron filings, bars, strips and the k like have been employed, also nickel, zinc and the various oxides of these metals. Ithas also been proposed to im regnate concrete rods or bars-with iron oxi e, but in practically all instances the catalytic or contact materials are present stationarily during oil conversion in the form of solids. In order, therefore, to

increase the catalytic activity of the particu- 'lar' catal st used the present invention resides in mtroducing into a moving bod of i heated oil vapor a catalyst in a finely divided state so that the catalyst will be circulated through the conversion zone of the system in unison with the oil va or, coming into ver intimate contact with t e oil vapor to facilias tate the breaking down of the more complex compounds into those of simpler form and to improve the ofperation generally of vapor base systems 0 oil conversion where cataysts or contact materials are present. The

catalysts may be introduced into the oil vapor in a finely divided state, held in suspension in a solution of requisite density or in the oil being treated. F r a further understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following so rying out the invention.

Referrin more particularly to the drawing the numera 1 designates a pipe still or vaporizer and the numeral 2 deslgnates the converter. The oil under rocess of heat treatment is first introduce into the vaporizing bank of tubes 3 situated in the pi e still 1, in which bank of tubes theoil is eated sufficiently to reduce the same to. a state of mingled vapor and liquid. Usually, the temperature o the oil and oil va or leaving the pipe still averages about 00 Fahr. From the outlet side'of the pipe still a. ipe line 4 leads to an evaporator 5 in which t ere takes place a separation of the vaporized fractions of the 011 from the liquid fractions. The liquid fractions are drawn ofi from the bottom of the evaporator by way of thepi l1ne 6 and are removed from the system in th: form of'fuel oil. The lighter or vaporous fract1ons pass overhead from the evaporator and are conducted by way of apipe line 7 to a separator 8 which operates to remove entrained liquid prior to the time the oil vapors are introduced into the hi h temperature unit or converter 2. From t e separator a pipe lme leads to a bank of tubes 10 arranged w thin the converter unit 2, in which unit the temperature of the oil vapors is raised to a point preferabl in excess of 1000 Fahr. and

through which ank of tubes 10 the oil vapors pass at relatively high velocity.

superheated steam may be mtroduced into the pipe line 9 by Way of the steam line 11 and also introduced into the pipe line' 9, ahead of the converter, is what may begenerall termed a liquid catalyst. This catalyst 1s maintained in adrum or reservoir 12, from which leads a valve controlled pipe line 13, which enters the line 9 between the separator and the converter. As a catalyst we may employ such materials as nickel, palladium, thorium oxide, zinc oxide, or metallic iron held in solution in a finely divided state. These catalytic materials maybe introduced into the heated oil vapor in several different forms. For example, the catalysts may be reduced to a finely divided state and introduced directly into the oil vapor, or while in such finely divided state maybe held in suspension in a liquid solution of requisite claim.

density or in the oil being charged to the sys-- tem and then introduce into the heated oil vapor. In any of these methods the catalyst thoroughly mixes with the oil vapor and C11- culates in unison therewith through the heat ed tubes of an oil converter. Byreason of its physical form the catalyst is thoroughly intermingled with all parts of the oil vapor' while the latter is traveling through the conversion zone and in this respect the invention is in marked contrast with previously employed systems wherein the catalyst used 1s maintained in a static or, stationary form in the conversion zone;

The vaporizer and converter units 1 and 2 may be heated in any suitable manner such for example as by means of oil burners 14. Following circulation through the tube bank 10 the oil vapors are introduced into a Jet condenser15. The cold incoming oil stock,

\- obtained from a tank 16 is introduced'by way of a pi e line 17 into the upper part of the jet con enser in spray form. This cold incoming oil contacting with the hot oil vapors, sharply reduces the temperature of the latter to arrest the conversion reactions such, for

example, as 600 F. The oil vapors pass overhead from the jet condenser and are conducted by way of a pipe line 18 to suitable fractionating and other treating mechanism. The unvaporized or liquid fractions pass from the bottom of the jet condenser by way cross-sectional area through an elongated cracking zone wherein said vapors are heated to a temperature in excess of 1000 F. while 1n the presence of said catalytic material, arresting conversionreactions in the oil vapors discharged from said cracking zone by bringing said va ors into direct 'contact with a.

body of cooling oil, whereby a portion of said vapors 1s condensed, separating from the mlxture of condensed vapors and cooling oil the catalytic materials, and separately returning to the system for passage therethrough the mixture of liquid oils and said I catalyst.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

CLYDE L. SMITH. CORNELIUS B. WATSON.

of a pipe line 19 to a tank or drum 20. In

this tank there takes place a gravity separation of the heavy oils containing the catalyst from the lighter oils, the catalyst and heavy oils collecting in the bottom of the tank 20 fromwhich they maydge removed by means of a pum 21-and force throughthe pipe line i I 22 bac to the reservoir 12. The lighter .oil

which accumulates in the upper part of the tank 20 is then forced or pumped by way of the pipeline 23 to the inlet side of the pipe still or vaporizer 1.-

In view of the foregoing it will beseen that the present invention provides a system of oil conversion operating 1n the vapor phase with the employment of a catalyst. While there has been illustrated certain apparatus for carrying out the process, never-the-less, *it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific apparatus shown and described, but that the cardinal feature of the invention resides in the employment of a catalyst which, while in a finely divided state, is introduced into the converting elements of the system so that while the oil vapors are undergoing conversion the same will be in the most intimate contact with the catalyst suspended therein. We therefore reserve the right to employ such modifications or variations of the system which may be said to fall within the scope of the following 

